The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream (2004)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Gregory Greene

Writer:

Gregory Greene (writer)

Release Date:

5 May 2004 (Canada)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

We're literally stuck up a cul-de-sac in a cement SUV without a fill-up

Plot:

Since World War II North Americans have invested much of their newfound wealth in suburbia. It has promised a sense of space...

Plot Keywords:

Suburbia | Fuel | Fossil Fuels | Oil | Wealth

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Matthew Simmons	...	Himself
Richard Heinberg	...	Himself
Michael Ruppert	...	Interview
James Howard Kunstler	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Steve Andrews	...	Himself
Ali Samsam Bakhtiari	...	Himself
Peter Calthorpe	...	Himself
Colin Campbell	...	Speaker
Dick Cheney	...	Himself (archive footage)
Julian Darley	...	Himself
Kenneth Deffeyes	...	Himself
Michael Klare	...	Himself
Barrie Zwicker	...	Host

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

The Electric Wallpaper Co.

Trivia:

The documentary was the inspiration for the video for "Them Kids" by musician Sam Roberts.

Quotes:

James Howard Kunstler: Now we're stuck up a cul-de-sac in a cement SUV with an empty gas tank.

Movie Connections:

Features Destination Earth (1956)

the truth in a not so bitter pill

I have the good common logical sense to know that oil cannot last forever and I am acutely aware of how much of my life in the suburbs revolves around petrochemical products. I've been an avid consumer of new technology and I keep running out of space on powerboards - so I know that even the energy crunch associated with Peak Oil will change my life appreciably.

The End Of Suburbia shows, in a rational and entertaining manner, just how much my whole family's lifestyle will have to change in my lifetime. I am particularly concerned for the future generations who will have to pick up the tab for our excesses, however the film-makers do offer a glimmer of hope in that they acknowledge human resourcefulness and determination - and the sense of community that tends to be engendered by shared hardship.

There is no point in trying to pretend that Peak Oil is baseless propaganda - or in treating it like the approaching radioactive cloud in "On The Beach" (i.e. with suicide pills at the ready). Even with our best efforts, times will get harder all over, and I'm hoping there's enough compassion and humanity to go around.